Phoenix gets more than 330 days of sunshine per year. I live in Pittsburgh, which is officially one of the most overcast cities in America. So when I was presented with an opportunity to spend six days in Phoenix at the start of spring, I jumped at the chance.
The Phoenix area also sees highs of well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer — but it’s that delicious, famously “dry heat” that evaporates the sweat right off your skin. Coming off the end of a long, snowy winter, the desert heat was nothing short of transformative for me — it offered the perfect excuse to wear as little clothing as possible, find my way to a pool during the day, and keep an ice cold drink in my hand after dark.
This queer, sunshine-loving traveler’s guide covers when to go, where to stay, where to eat and drink, and what to do to make the most of your adventure in greater Phoenix.
Go to Queer Phoenix
The Sonoran Desert offers sun and heat most of the year, but November through April generally offer the most temperate weather — clear skies and average temperatures in the high 60s, 70s, and low 80s. That said, you may want to avoid going in March — there’s a huge spring training baseball event, so airfare and hotel prices skyrocket and everything is more crowded than usual. April is LGBT Pride month in Phoenix, and the city’s Pride organization goes all out with events, including a festival, parade, and pageant.
Stay in Queer Phoenix
Both Scottsdale and Phoenix (including downtown Phoenix, for those who prefer to be amid the hustle and bustle) have no shortage of LGBT-friendly accommodations in every price range. Scottsdale, Phoenix’s immediate neighbor, reportedly has more spas per capita than any other US city—and many of them are among the most scenic in the world, thanks in large part to the stunning desert views available from their picture windows and soaking tubs.
By Kristina Marusic – Full Story at New Now Next
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
Arizona Sunburst Inn Bed and Breakfast offers a private desert oasis in the middle of Phoenix – it’s like you’re ot in the countryside.
Our Phoenix B&B features a welcoming, heated pool in a tropical setting – surrounded by magnificent palm trees. The grounds have wide, shady patios cooled by a mist system, and there’s also a hot tub where you can let the cares of the day evaporate away.
For the adventurous and outdoor lovers, there’s some great mountain hiking just a couple blocks away.
Each of our guestrooms is individually decorated, and includes beautifully remodelled bathrooms.
Arizona Sunburst Inn Bed & Breakfast is in one of Phoenix’s best neighborhoods, and is a great place to stay.
After spending my first weekend in Tucson with Katie, I had a surprise visitor in town for my second weekend, and VisitArizona had listed an event online that piqued our interest: a PowWow in Phoenix.
A PowWow is a gathering of several Native American communities who perform their traditional dances and showcase their communities’ costumes, and not knowing much about Native American culture at all, despite several visits to the Southwest, including various Indian reservations, I decided that it was time to learn more about their culture and so we headed to Phoenix for the day.
A PowWow is traditional held so that Native Americans of different communities can meet, dance and sing together, make new friendships, and of course: preserve their heritage and culture. But there is usually a dancing and/or singing competition, in the case of the PowWow we went to, there were competitions for both.
The Tempe Tourism Office has been promoting vacations for the LGBTQ community long before the term “gaycation” was even coined. On Jan. 16, the tourism office was honored for its efforts, by receiving the first-ever Founding Client Award from Pride Guide, a statewide LGBT total travel, wedding and business resource guide.
Pride Guide was first founded in Arizona and has since expanded to California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico. “The Tempe Tourism Office has been a great supporter of the Pride Guide and the LGBT Community from the very start of the Pride Guide concept,” Pride Guide Publisher Michael McFall said. “This award is not just presented to a client who has been with us from the beginning but also a client who used their talents and connections to push the Pride Guide to become what is today.”
Tempe’s efforts first began in 2003, when it joined the Greater Phoenix Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Each year its efforts have grown through initiatives like specific targeting of LGBTQ vacationers through advertising and partnerships as well as LGBTQ-friendly events.